Wild 3, Canucks 2 (SO)

Jess Myers, The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchangeDecember 18, 2013

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Right winger Jason Pominville scored the only goal in a shootout, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2, come-from-behind win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The Wild (20-11-5) trailed 2-1 before center Charlie Coyle knotted the game midway through the third. Left winger Zach Parise scored Minnesota's first goal, and goaltender Josh Harding made 29 saves in regulation and overtime as the Wild improved to 14-3-2 at home. Right winger Jannik Hansen and left winger David Booth scored for the Canucks (20-10-6). Vancouver got 30 saves from goalie Roberto Luongo but lost for the first time in December, snapping a seven-game winning streak. Luongo hadn't started a game in Minnesota in more than three years, and he was pulled from his previous three starts in the Wild's home rink, allowing five goals or more each time. On Tuesday, he kept Minnesota at bay for much of the time, including a frantic third period in which the Wild outshot Vancouver 11-5. The teams traded goals in a back-and-forth first period. Vancouver got on the board first when Hansen scored his third goal in the past four games, ripping a wrist shot that eluded Harding on the blocker side at 8:46. Minnesota answered on the power play exactly three minutes later. A crisp passing play in front of Luongo ended when Parise shot from the low circle behind the goalie. It was Parise's 15th goal of the season, tying him for the team lead with Pominville. The Canucks lost defenseman Ryan Stanton early in the second period. Locked up with Wild center Zenon Konopka, Stanton was tripped up behind the Vancouver net and went hard into the end boards. He got up favoring his left leg and headed to the dressing room. Konopka, who fought with Canucks right wing Dale Weise in the first period, was given a minor penalty for tripping. That call prompted a rain of boos from the crowd, which did not feel Konopka tripped Stanton on the play, and a heated argument ensued between referee Tim Peel and Canucks coach John Tortorella, who felt that Konopka deserved a major penalty on the play. Stanton did not return to the game. NOTES: Wild RW Nino Niederreiter skated in his 100th career game. In his first 64 games, played with the New York Islanders over parts of two seasons, Niederreiter recorded two goals and one assist. In his first 36 games with the Wild, the Swiss national has six goals and 10 assists and is second on the team in with 82 hits. ... Minnesota D Keith Ballard was playing his first game against the Canucks since signing in his home state over the summer. Ballard, who played college hockey at the University of Minnesota, spent 148 games over three seasons with the Canucks, including the team's run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in 2011. ... Vancouver's three-game road trip continues Thursday when the Canucks visit the Dallas Stars. Minnesota also will be traveling, as the Wild play their next four on the road, starting Thursday when they face the Penguins in Pittsburgh.